Fabric guiding and uncurling device



R E L H m M F. J

FABRIC GUIDING AND UNCURLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 30, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l H/J'HTTOR/VEYS.

11, 11937. J. F. MICHLER 2,080,376

I FABRIC GUIDING AND UNCURLING DEVICE Filed OOt. 50, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John F. Michler, Easton, Pa., assignor to Chipman Knitting Mills, Easton, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 30, 1936, Serial No. 108,454

Claims.

This invention relates to fabric guiding and uncurling devices, useful with sewing machines and the like, and the invention aims at improving the action of such devices, obviating the risk of work 5 being spoiled by inattention of the operator, and permitting more rapid operation. The invention is especially useful for overedge sewing of knitted or other fabrics whose margins (whether selvedge or out) tend to curl, and I have illustrated and explained it as used with a cup-feed type of sewing machine such as may be employed for backseaming a full-fashioned stocking blank, or even a circular-knit hose portion that has been split open Wale-wise. The invention is applicable to the modified type of uncurler shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,054,002 granted September 8, 1936 to Reuther, as well as to the older type shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,282,458, granted October 22,

1918 to Onderdonk-in connection with which it is hereinafter more particularly illustrated.

Other features and advantages of the invention besides those above mentioned will appear from the following description of a species or form of embodiment, and from the drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cup-feed sewing machine equipped with my uncurling device.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view of more essential parts, from the right of Fig. l, affording a 30 front edge view of the uncurler in operation on two layers of fabric.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the essential parts in operation on two fabric layers.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear edge View of the 35 uncurler.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary side views of the uncurling device, with certain parts removed, and with one part in different positions in the two figures.

40 Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom edge view of the more active parts of the uncurler.

Fig. 8 shows a section through the uncurler, taken as indicated by the line and arrows 88 in Fig. 2.

45 The cup-feed overedge sewing machine It shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be similar to that illustrated in the above-mentioned Onderdonk patent, and hence need not be described in any detail here; and so likewise the arrangement and 50 mounting of the uncurler II on said machine Ill, and the provisions for throwing the uncurler into and out of operation, and for adjusting it relative to the machine In. As illustrated in the said Onderdonk patent and in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the

55 uncurler II is positioned close in front of and between the rotary feed-cups I2, I3 of the machine I Q, so as to uncurl and guide the two fabric y s F, F directly into the grip of the feed-cups, which hold and feed them along by their margins while they are sewed together by the overedge stitch mechanism, which is generally indicated at I4.

For operating the latch-lever I5 which locks the uncurler I I either in the operative position of Figs. 1-3 or in an inoperative position (not shown), as illustrated in the said Onderdonk patent, a lever It (not shown in said patent) is pivoted at I! to the main body or supporting plate I8 of the uncurler I I, and has a sloping eccentric cam-slot I9 in which is engaged a pin 2I on said lever I5. By manipulating lever I6, latchlever I5 can be unlocked from notched segment 22 fixed to supporting bracket 23 on which body plate I8 is pivoted at 24, swung either way, and relocked as desired. This is done in throwing the uncurler II out of operation, or vice-versa. As shown in Figs. 1-4, the uncurler II comprises opposed uncurling members 25, 25 pivoted at 26, 26 between pairs of ears 21, 21 projecting from opposite sides of body plate I8. The lower, active fabric-engaging portions 28, 28 of these plate-like members 25, 25 are shown extending forward or opposite to the direction of fabric travel, and may have the outline best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6. The adjacent sides of these portions 28, 28 may be reduced or bevelled outward and downward at their front ends, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, to facilitate entrance of the fabric F, F between them. As shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6, the fabric-engaging parts 28, 28 may have recesses or notches 29, 29 in their upper edges just behind their forward extremities or noses, to permit spontaneous readjustment of the fabric and release of wrinkles. The rear corners or heels of parts 28, 28 may be reduced or bevelled away as shown in Figs. 5-8 to allow them to be located as far in between the feed-cups I2, I3 as possible. The parts 28, 28 may be yieldingly pressed or urged toward one another upon the fabric layers by a (helical) spring 30 acting between the upper ends of the members 25, 25. This spring 30 may be mounted in a corresponding round hole through the supporting plate I8. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, one end of spring 30 bears directly against one member 25, while its other end bears in the recessed end of a thumbscrew 3| threaded through the other member 25. By adjusting the screw 31, the tension of the spring 30 and the pressure of the parts 28, 28

on the fabric layers F, F may be adjusted as desired for different fabrics.

Between the uncurling members 25, 25 is an intermediate cooperating member 33 which separates the fabric layers F while passing through the uncurler. For engaging the upper edges of the layers F, F (after uncurling) and aligning them properly with reference to the feed-cups l2, [3, there are guides 34, 34 at opposite sides of the intermediate uncurling member 33, shown in Figs. 2 and 4 as consisting of round pins extending through corresponding holes in the parts 28, 28, and yieldingly urged inward by leaf-springs 35, 35 attached to the members 25, 25 at 36, 36, and bearing on the outer ends of said pins 34, 34. The inner ends of the guide pins 34, 34 may be squared accurately flat to bear properly against opposite sides of the member 33, and their outer ends may have flat projections 31, 31 to engage in corresponding slots in the free ends of the springs 35, 35. In the normal operation of the device, the ends of the guide pins 34, 34 always bear against member 33 and serve as edge guides for the fabric layers F, F, no matter what the thickness of the fabric may be; but when the upper ends of the members 25, 25 are squeezed together to separate the parts 23, 28 from one another and from member 33 sufficiently, the guides 34, 34 recede with them from the member 33, making it easy to clear and remove the fabric F, F,especially if the fabric should have become caught on the parts 28, 28 or on the guides 34, 34 in any way.

As thus far described, the general construction and operation of the uncurler resembles that disclosed in the Onderdonk patent, although different therefrom in certain respects, as will readily be apparent.

Referring, now, especially to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, it will be seen that in my uncurler the intermediate member 33 is not fixed relative to the uncurling members 25, 25 in the general plane of the device, nor rigid with the support I8, as in the Onderdonk patent, but movable in the general plane of the device relative to said members 25, 25 and their portions 23, 28. In the construction here illustrated, the member 33 is in effect a thin steel plate mounted to turn or swing on a pivot 38 at the lower end of the support IS, in a slot in the lower portion 39 of said support. Adjacent sides of members 25, 25 are preferably recessed to accommodate member 33 over most of their area, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, but come together (under the pressure of spring 38) outside the periphery of member 33, Fig. '1. The recesses need not, however, be so deep as to prevent members 25, 25 from pressing lightly on the sides of member 33. Preferably, the slot of part 39 that accommodates member 33 is in the mid-plane of the thickness of the support l8 and as best shown in Fig. 3, the left-hand half of the portion 39 is a separate part, secured to the right-hand half (which is integral with plate l8) above the slot, by means such as a clamping screw 4| and dowels 42, 42. In Figs. 5 and 6, the pivot axis 38 is shown a short distance above the fabric edge guides 34,

34 and the active parts 23, 28 of the members 25, 25.

The active portion 44 of the member 33 has a notched nose outline somewhat resembling that of the parts 28, 23, and ordinarily occupies the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5, with its forward extremity in front of the noses of parts 28,

28, and the bottom of its notch 45 about even with the front corners of their recesses 29, 29,

being yieldingly held in this position by any suitable means, such as that hereinafter described. But when the placket or fent where the margins of a stocking-blank unite (at the toe) reaches the bottom of the notch 45, the continued movement of the fabric turns the member 33 about the pivot axis at 38 from the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6. This movement of member 33 carries it entirely out from between the fabric layers F, F, thus allowing the fent of the stocking to slip past the nose 44 and the guides 34, 34,which latter may yield and recede outward if necessary.

Thus it is unnecessary for the operator to watch the operation very closely, stop the machine I0, disengage the stocking from the uncurler H, and feed the last of the stocking through the machine H] by hand, as with the Onderdonk uncurler. Also, risk of spoiling the stocking as a result of inattention, bad judgment, or want of skill on the part of the operator is avoided.

The means for yieldingly holding the member 33 in its ordinary active position is shown in Figs. 5 and 8 as comprising a spring-pressed ballcatch 41. This is housed in a tubular casing 48 fixed in one half of the support portion 39, and ordinarily engages in a socket-hole 49 in the member 33. A screw-cap 50 on the end of casing-tube 48 affords a means of adjusting the tension on the catch spring and the resistance of the ball 41 to disengagement from socket 49. When the pull on member 33 trips the ball 41 out of socket 49 and turns said member 33, the ball presently enters a segmental slot 5| in member 33, which accommodates the ball without friction and allows it to turn unresisted to the position shown in Fig. 6. Any further pull on the member 33 is resisted by the ball 41, but can overcome its spring and turn the member 33 still further, if the pull is strong enough.

The pivot 38 is preferably fast to the member 33, and provided with a handle or crank arm 53 fixed thereto, as a convenient means of manipulating member 33 by hand when desired, or of testing the tension or resistance of ball-catch 41 when adjusting it by screw-cap 50. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, there is a stop-lug 54 projecting from support part 39, for engaging arm 53 to prevent turning member 33 beyond its ordinary active position of Fig. 5 when resetting it after it has been tripped by a stocking or other work sewed on the machine H].

In some cases, the pressure of the parts 28, 28 of members 25, 25 (due to spring 33) may suffice to hold member 33 in its ordinary active position of Figs. 3 and 5 until it catches in the fabric F, F (as described above, or otherwise) and turns to the position of Fig. 6 to let the fabric slip past. In such cases, tension on catch 41 may be released; or the catch may even be removed or omitted from the device altogether.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising opposed fabric uncurling members yieldingly urged toward one another; an intermediate. member normally lying between the active portions of said uncurling members and coacting with them on fabric layers travelling between the said uncurling members and said intermediate member, but movable relative to said uncurling members out from between said layers; and means for yieldingly holding said intermediate member in said when caught by the fabric.

2. A device of the character described comprising a support; opposed fabric-uncurling members carried thereby and yieldingly urged toward one another; an intermediate member carried by said support normally lying between the active portions of said uncurling members and coacting with them on fabric layers travelling between said uncurling members and said intermediate member, but movable relative to said support and said uncurling members out from between the layers; and means for yieldingly holding said intermediate member in normal position, with freedom to move as aforesaid when caught by the fabric.

3. A device of the character described comprising a support divided or slotted at one end substantially in the mid-plane of its thickness; opposed fabric-uncurling members pivoted to said support at either side thereof, with their active portions projecting beyond its end and yieldingly urged toward one another; an intermediate plate member pivoted in the slot of said support and normally extending between the active portions of said members, to coact with them on fabric layers travelling between the said uncurling mem,-* bers and said intermediate member; and means for yieldingly holding said intermediate member in normal position, with freedom to swing back out from between the fabric layers when caught by the fabric.

4. A device of the character described comprising opposed fabric uncurling members yieldingly urged toward one another; an intermediate member lying between the active portions of said uncurling members and coacting with them on fabric layers travelling between the said uncurling members and said intermediate member, and edge guides for the fabric carried by said first-mentioned members and yieldingly pressed against said intermediate member, but receding therefrom with said first-mentioned members when the latter are moved far enough away from the intermediate member.

5. A device of the character described comprising a support; opposed fabric-uncurling members carried thereby and yieldingly urged toward one another; an intermediate member carried by said support normally lying between the active portions of said uncurling members and coacting with them on fabric layers travelling between said uncurling members and said intermediate member, but movable relative to said support and said uncurling members out from between the layers; and means for yieldingly holding said intermediate member in normal position, with freedom to move as aforesaid when caught by the fabric, and for also adjusting the resistance to such motion of said intermediate member.

JOHN F. MICHLER. 

